How to choose a Hearing Aid

Doctor Norgaard has spent over a decade practicing Audiology, but a lifetime reaping the benefits of hearing aid technology. Diagnosed at the age of 3 with hearing impairment, Dr. Norgaard is uniquely qualified to empathize with your personal struggle and the frustrations hearing loss brings. If you or a loved one are ready to choose a suitable hearing aid, there is good news. With technological advances, today’s hearing aids are remarkably comfortable, durable, compact and discreet. Don’t stress if you’re struggling with how to choose a hearing aid. At Sioux Falls Audiology, we’re passionate about improving the hearing of patients from adults to children.

Some things to consider when choosing hearing aids include:

Lifestyle

How and where you spend most of your time will greatly affect your hearing aid choice. We’ll want to understand more about your activities when we discuss your options.

Fast-Paced

This lifestyle finds you on the go, with a need to interact with people throughout the course of a day. You probably spend time in noise-filled spaces, like pubs or restaurants, or in wide-open settings for conferences, sporting events or concerts.

Ordinary

Socializing in a small-group setting is an important part of your life. You like to get together over coffee, spend time together shopping, golfing or going to the movies.

Uncomplicated

You are likely to spend the bulk of your time at home or in a quiet outdoor setting. Reading, watching television, woodworking and gardening may be some of your pastimes. It’s still important to be able to communicate in face-to-face situations.

Types and Styles

Hearing aids are available in several different styles including:

ITE (In the Ear):

The ITE hearing aids are typically made from an impression made at your audiologist’s office, are custom-fit to your ear and usually available in a range of skin tones to match your own.

ITE Hearing Aid Styles:

IIC (Invisible in the Canal) and CIC (Completely in the Canal): These styles are the smallest available, fit deep within the ear canal, and are typically fit for people with mild to moderate hearing loss, who have excellent finger dexterity (to replace the batteries on this tiny instrument).

ITC (In the Canal): This hearing aid style sets in the bottom of the outer ear bowl. It has longer battery life due to the larger size, and can fit a wider range of hearing losses than the IIC or CIC hearing aids. Volume wheels and directional microphones are also some available features.

Low Profile: These hearing aids are available in a range of designs, from half-shells that fill the about half of the outer ear bowl to models that nearly fill the bowl. Their size allows for added features, like directional microphones and manual controls, which make them a good choice for clients with dexterity issues, as well as those with severe orprofound hearing loss.

BTE (Behind the Ear):

The BTE hearing aids perch atop or behind the outer ear and feature a tube that delivers sound down into the opening of the ear canal. These are also custom fit via a cast taken in our office, and are available in a variety of flesh tones or trendy, patterned designs.

BTE Hearing Aid Styles:

RITE (Receiver in the Ear) or RIC (Receiver in the Canal): These hearing aid styles feature a speaker built into the ear tip, rather than the main body of the device. The hearing aid’s speaker sets in the ear canal while the microphone and processor rest in a small case behind the outer ear. This style is typically recommended for those who have high frequency hearing loss.

BTE with Earmold: These hearing aids are appropriate for all types of hearing loss, from mild to profound, and the custom-fit earmold can be ordered in a range of colors and styles. The longer shape fits the contour of the area behind the ear, and is able to offer more features and controls, with increased power. It is a good option for people with dexterity issues or those who are homebound; these styles are less prone to damage and the size makes them easier to repair. This is also a great choice for children, because it can be reprogrammed as necessary and the earmold can be changed out as the child grows.

Brands we carry

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We encourage you to stop in and visit with us to become more familiar with current hearing aid technology, type and style options. Contact Sioux Falls Audiology for more information on how to choose a hearing aid or to make an appointment for a hearing test.

Dr. Mandy now offers FREE hearing screenings and hearing aid trials from the comfort of your own home!

If you or a loved one are struggling to hear during this unprecedented time, and are wondering how to get a hearing test while trying to social distance. Dr. Mandy has a solution for you! Did you know you can have a hearing test and try hearing aids while following social distancing recommendations? Dr. Mandy now offers FREE hearing screenings and hearing aid trials from the comfort of your own home. All you need is your smartphone and a pair of ear buds. That’s it!

For more information or to schedule your screening, please use the contact us link or call us at (605) 306-3050.

Hear. Better. Now.

“The advances in hearing aid technology have made vast improvements in recent years. I am excited to be able to share what hearing aids have to offer based on my personal and professional experience to help others struggling to hear. Hearing loss is a quality of life issue, I get it… I live it.”
– Dr. Mandy Norgaard